Billfold construction



D. J. BROUGHTON BILL-FOLD CONSTRUCTION April 13, 1954 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed May 27, 1952 iwp.4

INVENTOR flown: J. Baum/ram ATTORNEYS April 13, 1954 J BRQUGHTON 2,675,043

BILLFOLD CONSTRUCTION Filed May 27, 1952 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 BY 14L ATToR zYs Ap i 3, 1954 o. J. BROUGHTON ,675,043

v BILLFOLD CONSTRUCTION Filed May 27, 1952 3 Sheets-Sheet 5 HE/P23 ,27 INVENTOR 1701/04/15 IB/Pouw/ro/v ATToRNE Ys Patented Apr. 13, 1954 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE EILLFOLD CONSTRUCTION Application May 27, 1952, Serial No. 290,263

4 Claims.

This invention relates to an improved billfold construction, and more particularly to an improved front wall assembly for billfolds.

One object of the invention is to provide a front wall construction which forms a chassis for the assembly of other structural elements which may take varying forms to meet specific purposes, and may be formed of varying materials.

Another object of the invention is to provide a billfold in which the parts are secured without stitching and in the construction of which substantial savings may be made in the use of an outside covering material of high quality without sacrificing the ability of the parts which make up the front wall construction to withstand long hard usage.

Other objects and advantages in the details of construction will be apparent from the following description and accompanying drawings, in which Fig. 1 is a front elevational view of a billfold embodying the invention;

Fig. 2 is a plan View of a blank from which the billfold is made;

Fig. 3 is a detail view of an inwardly directed pocket apron secured to an end edge portion of the outer panel member of the front wall assembly as shown by Fig. 2;

Fig. 4 is a detail of a larger outwardly directed apron member overlying the inner side of a front wall outer anel also as shown in Fig. 2;

Fig. 5 is a partial plan view similar to Fig. 2 showing the addition to the assembly of a bridging member and strap connections for the same;

Fig. 6 is a detail of the bridging member;

Fig. 7 is a detail of a stay strap;

Fig. 8 is a detail of a partition member;

Fig. 9 is a partial view of the blank of Fig. 2 showing a first folding operation and the assembly ready for insertion of the partition member of Fig. 8;

Fig. 10 is a similar View showing the partition member inserted with the parts ready for the final folding operation;

Fig. ll is a fragmentary detail of a modification of the outer edge construction for a front wall end section; and

Fig. 12 is a cross section on line l2--l2 of Fig. 1.

In the drawings i indicates a rear wall with the customary extension 2 at the top which is folded inwardly against the wall and secured as by cementing to present a finished top edge. The front wall assembly is formed with two spaced end sections generally indicated by the numeral 3. Each end section 3 includes an outer panel member extending upwardly from the lower edge of the rear wall, and a panel portion of an inner wall member extending downwardly from the upper edges of the outer panel members. The ends of the billfold are closed by closure flaps ii extending one from each end edge of the rear wall I. A bridging member extends across the space between said end sections as indicated at 6, with the ends thereof telescoped between the panel portions of each end section.

The blank from which the body of the billfold is made, as illustrated by Fig. 2, may, if desired, be a two piece structure having an upper and lower portion. The u per portion comprises, as shown, the rear wall i and integral therewith the spaced outer front panel members I. The latter may also have edge extensions 8, cemented as indicated at 9, to the inner ends of two spaced inner wall panel portions ll] of an inner wall member generally designated by the numeral 4. A narrow connector strip l connects panel portions Ill. The upper portion of the blank of Fig. 2 is formed from leather or other material suitable for the outside surface covering of the assembly and the inner wall member 4 may be of a cheaper material such as a strip of imitation leather or coated fabric. Panel portions l9 overla the inner side of the material of the upper portion of the blank along the extensions 3 to present finished top edges for the end sections when folded over in the final assembly. The inner wall member 4 may of course be of the same material as, and integral with, panels 7.

The adjacent end edges [2 of the outer panel members 1 may be cut with a concave contour as shown, and between them, extending from the bottom edge of the rear wall member I, is a tab I3. The material cut from the spaced edges l2 may be preserved and utilized for pocket entrance portions as will be described.

The outer members I, as indicated at the right hand side of the blank of Fig. 2, are provided with two parallel, spaced cuts [4 and lb. The end edges of the panels may also be centrally notched as at 16. Against the inner face of the members 1 is cemented one end of an inwardly extending apron ll, the cementing eing confined to the surface between the edge of a notch 56 and the adjacent cut it. The apron thus overlies cut [4, as viewed in Fig. 2, and extends inwardly toward the adjacent edge l2, its convex free end edge portion is being threaded through the ad jacent cut l5. As shown by Fig. 3 the free end portion 18 is cemented to the body portion of the apron I1. The body of the apron may be inexpensive paper lining stock and portions I8 may conveniently be formed from the leather material cut from between the edges I2 of the spaced end sections, as previously mentioned. The convex curvature of end portions I3 as shown may be derived from the out making the concave edges at I2.

Also against the inner face of the outer member i is placed an apron I9, of inexpensive paper stock, approximately coextensive with the area of member i, the apron being cemented to the member 1 along a narrow zone adjacent edge I2, as at 20.

At opposite outer end edges of the inner panel member 4, notches 2I may be cut for registration with notches I 6 of the outer members I when folded over on the same. Adjacent each end edge and spaced inwardly from notches 2I are slots 22 out in the panel portions ID to receive the ends of stay straps slidably holding the bridging member 6 between the end sections as will be described. Bridging member 6 is shown by Fig. 6, one of the stay straps 23 by Fig. 7, and the initial assembly thereof with the body of the blank by Fig. 5.

Member 6 may be formed of leather material or the like and top and bottom edge extensions 24 may be folded back: and secured to the rear face of the same to present finished edges extending between the end sections in the finished article. Transverse slots 25 are provided adjacent each end of member 6 to receive straps 23. Straps 23 (Fig. '7) are formed at one end with ears 26 for interlocking in the slots 25 as shown by Fig. 5. Member 6, with the straps in place, is then tucked under tab I3 of rear wall I with the outer ends of the straps extending beyond the notched edges at Hi, all as indicated by Fig. 5.

As the next assembly step (Fig. 9) the inner wall member 4 is folded inwardly over bridging member 6 and the ends of straps 23 are passed through slots 22 of inner panel portions I0. Connector stri II of member 4 overlies tab I3 adjacent the lower edge of member I. A partition member 21 (Fig. 8) with transversely cut end slots 28 is then superposed on the panels I!) with its edge tucked under the tab I3 (Fig. 10), the free ends of straps 23 being threaded through slots 28 of the partition member 21.

This completes the assembly of the elements forming the front wall and the assembly is then folded onto the rear wall as shown in Fig. 1. Prior to or after the assembly has been folded onto the rear wall, the projecting ends of straps 23 are folded around the adjacent edges of members It and I and are cemented or otherwise secured to the outer face of the latter, as indicated in dotted lines at the left of Fig. 10.

The ends of the billfold are now closed by folding the end closure flaps onto the outer faces of the adjacent outer panel members I and inserting the ends of the flaps through the adjacent cuts 14, the portions of the flaps inwardly of the cuts being cemented to the inner face of the said panel members. Preferably and as shown the flaps 5 are rovided with cars 29 which interlock with the ends of cuts It.

When desired, the outer end edges of the inner panel members It may be secured to the corresponding edges of the outer panels I. A preferred manner of accomplishing such securernent is shown in Fig. 11 where the members Iii are provided with extensions 30 at each side of notch 2|, these extensions being folded over and se- 4 cured to the outer face of panels I in the same manner and at the same time that the ends of strap 23 are secured, as previously described. As will be apparent the secured ends of straps 23 and extensions 3!), if the latter are present, are concealed by flaps 5.

After the front wall assembly has been folded onto the rear wall and prior to or after the end closure flaps 5 have been secured in place, the free end of tab I3 extending above the connector strip I I is cemented to the inner face of the rear Wall, as shown in Fig. 12. The connector strip I I is thus anchored to the rear wall at the bottom of the bill compartment, and the inner panel members It, which extend to the bottom of the bill compartment are held against separation at their lower adjacent corners. With these corners so held the front wall assembly and the several elements which make it up may be modified to meet a range of billfold needs and structural modifications.

As shown, the structure permits an advantageous multiple pocket arrangement making multiple use of the panels in combination with relatively inexpensive curtain or lining materials. As will be apparent, the provision of the apron ll, having its outer end secured to the inner face of the end edge portion of outer panel I and its inner end, finished with the leather portion I8, extending outwardly through slot I5, forms, when the inner end. of closure flap 5 is secured to the inner face of panel 1, a pocket 3| between the apron I? and panel I. At the same time a pocket 32 is formed between the apron I I and oppositely directed apron I9. A third pocket 33, has one wall formed by the apron I9 and the other wall formed by the outer end portions of the bridging member 6 and the adjacent inner panel I0.

What is claimed is:

1. In a billfold having a rear wall and a front wall, the latter wall including spaced outer panel members extending upwardly from the lower edge of the rear wall, inner panel members extending respectively from the upper edges of the outer panel members downwardly between the adjacent outer panel member and the rear wall, means connecting the adjacent ends of the rear wall and outer panel members, each of said inner panel members being substantially commensurate with the adjacent outer panel member, the lower adjacent corners of said inner panel members being connected by a narrow strip extending across the space between the outer panel members, a tab extending from the lower edge of the rear wall intermediate the outer panel members and folded upwardly over and above said narrow strip, the portion of said tab above the strip being secured to the inner face of the rear wall, a bridging member extending across the space between the outer panel members with its ends respectively extending between the adjacent outer and inner panel members, and means to retain the ends of the bridging member in said position.

2. In a billfold having a rear wall and a front wall, the latter wall including spaced outer panel members extending upwardly from the lower edge of the rear wall, end closure flaps extending one from each end of the rear wall over the outer end portions of the adjacent outer panel member and secured thereto, inner panel members extending respectively from the upper edges of the outer panel members downwardly between the adjacent outer panel member and the rear wall, each of said inner panel members being substantially commensurate with the adjacent outer panel member, the lower adjacent corners of said inner panel members being connected by a narrow strip extending across the space between the outer panel members, a tab extending from the lower edge of the rear wall intermediate the outer panel members and folded upwardl over and above said narrow strip, the portion of said tab above the strip being secured to the inner face of the rear wall, and a bridging member extending across the space between the outer panel members with its end portions respectively extending between the adjacent outer and inner panel members, a pair of strap members slidably interlocked one to each said end portion of the bridging member, slots formed in each inner panel member through which the adjacent strap member extends, the free ends of said strap members being folded around the outer end of the adjacent outer panel member and secured to the outer face thereof beneath the adjacent end closure flap.

3. In a billfold as in claim 2, the outer ends of each inner panel member being provided with a pair of extensions one at each side of said straps, said extensions being folded around the outer end of the adjacent outer panel member and secured to the outer face thereof beneath the adjacent end closure flap.

4. In a billfold as in claim 2, the outer panel members being each formed with a transverse slot spaced from the outer end thereof, an inwardly directed apron secured at one end to the outer end portion of the inner face of each of said outer panel members and having its free end extending through said slot, and an outwardly directed apron secured at one end to the inner end portion of the inner face of each of outer panel members and overlying the adjacent inwardly directed apron.

References Cited in the file of this: patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 2,294,635 Sherwood Sept. 1, 1942 2,496,174 Pence Jan. 31, 1950 

